One СƬƵ graduate’s journey to find the right prosthesis led to a monumental win for limb loss awareness in Ohio.
Lucas Slusher, ’17, was born without his right arm below his elbow, which is called a congenital amputation. Since birth, he has had several prostheses to help adapt to life with one arm, with his first one being a body–powered hook. But nothing felt quite right.
“As I got older, I began to view the prosthesis as inferior in both aesthetic and function,” Lucas said. “I was not a fan of the skin- toned color, something that was trying too hard to look like a real arm. It was also uncomfortable to wear due to the shoulder strap.”
In 2021, he finally found an option that seemed to meet his needs - Hero Arm, a multi-grip, 3D printed, prosthetic arm created by Open Bionics. Although the Hero Arm was everything he had been looking for in a prosthesis, actually obtaining it came with challenges, as insurance did not cover its cost. Thanks to a personal crowdfunding campaign, he was able to raise $20,000 for the arm. But Lucas was aware that not everyone would be able to do this, and he wanted to make a difference for other amputees to help move them toward better access to prosthetic care.
Lucas began advocating for April to be declared as Limb Loss Awareness Month. After collaborating with Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, he was successful, and his appeal for an official proclamation was approved in 2022, and Limb Loss Awareness Month raises awareness of the challenges that people with disabilities face.
“Limb Loss Awareness Month is a time to reflect upon the millions of individuals who live with limb loss in the United States,” Lucas said. “It’s imperative that we work collectively to not only support these people emotionally, but continue to provide equitable service and support so that they can lead adaptive lives.”
For Lucas, the right prosthetic has made a world of difference and vastly improved his quality of life. The arm is lightweight, making everyday tasks such as cooking and opening doors much easier. Also, thanks to the Hero Arm, the days of awkward handshakes are gone for Lucas.
“The Hero Arm has allowed me to express my limb difference in a more confident way, which has opened a door to more positive communication about prosthetics and limb difference. It’s a prosthesis that I’m excited and proud to wear each day.”
In addition to raising awareness, Lucas is making an impact on many lives by helping others navigate the process to receive a Hero Arm as the lead patient coordinator at Open Bionics. Previously, he worked in the marketing department, showcasing success stories of Hero Arm users in videos.
With his background in communications and his interest in writing and telling stories, this job was the perfect fit for Lucas. He graduated with an applied communication degree with a concentration on technical and media writing from СƬƵ Ashtabula, providing him a solid foundation to succeed in his career.
“Not only did СƬƵ provide me with valuable connections, the communication courses I took while there have allowed me to effectively communicate with people across various walks of life and circumstances in order to make progress and success happen,” Lucas explained. “In my current role, speaking with amputees, no two people are the same, and I have to adapt my communication style for each case, which has proven successful.”
Lucas also has a passion for giving back to the community and helping kids. Volunteering as an amputee camp counselor is a rewarding and fun role for him. He works with teenage kids to give them a positive and memorable camp experience.
“They bond with their peers, make friends, share insight and advice on living with limb loss, and instill confidence in each other,” Lucas said. “Seeing the kids gain confidence in their abilities and not let their limb difference stop them from trying new things, along with the progression over the week in each kid, is remarkable.”
Lucas hopes to inspire others to give back to the community and radiated that message when he delivered the commencement speech at his СƬƵ graduation in 2017.
“I spoke about the importance of providing the next generation with the tools and support necessary to succeed, and echoed Gandhi's message ‘the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service to others,’” Lucas said.
